Colombo, Sri Lanka – Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe has been named as a respondent in a series of fundamental rights petitions filed before the Supreme Court. The petitions are linked to the police crackdown and subsequent dispersal of a protest led by the Socialist Youth Union in 2022.
The decision to include Wickremesinghe as a respondent came after lawyers representing the petitioners made a formal request during the court proceedings. The petitions allege that the police action violated the fundamental rights of the protesters and were carried out under directives influenced by the then-president.
The protests in question were part of a wave of demonstrations that erupted across Sri Lanka during 2022, driven by widespread public discontent over economic hardship and governance issues. The Socialist Youth Union’s movement was one of several that faced significant police action, including tear gas and water cannons, to disperse demonstrators.
With Wickremesinghe’s presidential immunity having come to an end following his departure from office, legal action can now proceed against him in connection with these events. Petitioners claim that his administration bore responsibility for the excessive force used during the protests, leading to several injuries among participants.
The court’s decision marks a significant legal development, as it allows former leaders to be held accountable for actions taken during their tenure. The Supreme Court will now review the petitions in light of Wickremesinghe’s inclusion as a respondent, with further proceedings expected in the coming weeks.
This case highlights the growing legal and social challenges facing Sri Lanka’s political figures in the aftermath of last year’s protests, with public demand for justice and accountability remaining strong.
